MAGANLAL L, PATEL 89 
The extent to which hybridization of cotton takes place generally has 
been a matter of considerable controversy. Without going into the older 
literature on the subject, we may call attention to Gammie’s opinion in 1903,! 
He states as follows :— 
“Tt is customary among botanists to assume that the numerous forms of 
cotton plants have become inextricably complicated and difficult to 
understand and distinguish through hybridization. It appears to the writer 
that the true solution of the problem of classification will be found to lie in 
the fact that, in the Indian form, these so-called species and hybrids are 
merely cultivated races evolved from an unknown prototype.” A little later 
(1905) Gammie? was more definite, and stated that in his opinion the 
numerous forms occurring in every species of Indian cottons were not to be 
explained through hybridization, in that Indian cottons are normally 
self-fertilized. “‘ A large number of varieties.”’ he said, “‘ procured from almost 
every part of the country have been grown in contiguous lines without 
hybridizing. Emasculated flowers allowed to remain uncovered usually 
drop off unfertilized. In the few cases where pollen was carried to the 
stigmas by insects, bolls were not subsequently developed.” 
This very clear opinion that crossing among Indian cottons is of rare 
occurrence, and, when it occurs, is of little practical importance, is not shared 
by other workers on the subject. Watt? writes as though he considered that 
eross-fertilization was frequent and that many Indian types have risen through 
such natural hybridization. Leake* after a very careful series of observations 
came to the conclusion that in Indian cottons “ cross-fertilization takes place 
to a considerable extent, though the greater portion of this is limited to neigh- 
bouring plants.”’ He says, further, that cottons which flower by the end of 
the rainy season are more liable to cross-fertilization than others. 
It may well be, however, that in different species of cotton, the tendency 
towards hybridization will be very different. Thus, for instance, cross-ferti- 
lization would be very difficult in Gossypium arboreum with its short style, 
while in the various types of Gossypium neglectum, where the length of style 
gives much more opportunity for foreign pollen to be received, it might easily 
be frequent. The forms of Gossypium herbaceum occupy an intermediate 
position, and none of the workers above quoted have made careful and detailed 
observations of the incidence of crossing with this species. 
1 Note on the Classification of Indian Cottons, Calcutta, 1903. 
2 The Indian Cottons, Caleutta, 1905. 
3 Wild and Cultivated Plants of the World, London, 1907. 
4 Mem. Dept. Agri. India, Botanical Series, IV, no. 3. 
